BFHC to host health insurance literacy program

On Thursday, Sept. 3, Bethel Family Health Center will host a Health Insurance Literacy Session from 1 to 2:30 p.m. The session is free and open to the public.

Are you newly insured? Do you find health insurance terms such as co-pay, deductible and co-insurance to be confusing? The Maine Primary Care Association, with help from Community Health Options, is helping insured Mainers navigate their insurance to use it for their best health.

With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, more and more Americans are finding out for the first time what it means to have quality, affordable insurance. Over 70,000 Mainers have enrolled in new plans through the Federal Marketplace to help them stay healthy, but many are unsure of what exactly all this insurance entails.

“It’s almost a second language to learn,” says Ashley Mills, Outreach Coordinator for the Maine Primary Care Association, “so it can be a challenge. We know that it’s not only our responsibly to help people gain affordable insurance, but also to help them know how to use it in a way that keeps them healthy, happy, and well informed.”

The session is open to all, regardless of insurance carrier or insurance status. Resources and referral information will be available to take home.

For further information, please contact Jeb E. Murphy by phone at (207) 621-0677 ext. 203 or by e-mail at jmurphy@mepca.org. Bethel Family Health Center is located at 32 Railroad Street in Bethel.

Bethel Family Health Center is part of HealthReach Community Health Centers, a group of 11 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Central and Western Maine. Dedicated providers deliver high quality medical and behavioral health care to citizens in over 80 rural communities. To ensure access for everyone, HealthReach accepts Medicare, MaineCare and major insurances. In addition, an Affordable Care Program is available to uninsured and underinsured residents as well as assistance with applications for programs that help with the cost of health care and medications including the Health Insurance Marketplace. A private, non-profit celebrating a 40-year history, HealthReach is funded by patient fees, grants and individual donations.